Ivy Coach College Admissions Blog

MIT is the proud alma mater of Noramay Cadena, the first in her family to attend college (photo credit: Madcoverboy).

We thought we’d share with you a story about a woman who recently graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with her third degree from the institution who very much inspires us. Her name is Noramay Cadena and she gained admission to MIT as an undergraduate as a member of the Class of 2003. Noramay Cadena was not the typical MIT undergrad. She had a daughter at 16 and encouraged by some wonderful high school teachers stayed the path towards a first rate education by moving across the country and matriculating to MIT with her daughter. She would become the first in her family to receive a college education.

Ms. Cadena would earn a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT before heading off to Boeing where she worked as a spacecraft test director (rocket science!). A couple of years ago, she applied with Boeing’s support to MIT again in order to pursue an MBA and a master’s in engineering systems. Together with her daughter, they trekked across the country from California again in what was very much a homecoming for both mother and daughter.

This is such a wonderful story of a woman who was the first in her family to attend college, who also happened to be a single mom, and who understood the value of a great education and wouldn’t let being a single mom deter her from her dreams! It’s also a narrative that college admissions counselors just love. College admissions counselors want to help people be the first in their families to attend college. They want to help people who yearn for a great education. They want to admit people who will create genuine, remarkable change in the world. And that’s exactly what Noramay Cadena is doing.